An aged king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, according to which of them is most eloquent in praising him. His favourite, Cordelia, says nothing. Lear’s world descends into chaos.

Running Time: 3hrs 20mins, including 20min interval

King Lear at the National TheatreThought to have been written between 1603 and 1606, King Lear is one of William Shakespeare’s most renowned tragedies. The production you are about to watch, directed by Sam Mendes and featuring Simon Russell Beale in the title role, is the fourth in the National Theatre’s history.

First, in the Olivier Theatre in 1986, David Hare directed Anthony Hopkins as King Lear, Douglas Hodge as Edmund, Bill Nighy as Edgar and Michael Bryant as Gloucester. A second production, in the Lyttelton Theatre, opened in 1990 – while the same company also appeared in Richard III in the same space. Deborah Warner directed Brian Cox as Lear, Ian McKellen as Kent (also playing Richard III), David Bradley as the Fool and Mark Strong as Burgundy.

The National Theatre’s final King Lear of the twentieth century opened in the intimate Cottesloe Theatre in 1997. Directed by Richard Eyre, Ian Holm played Lear in a company which also included Timothy West as Gloucester, Anne-Marie Duff as Cordelia and Michael Bryant, who had featured in the 1986 production, returning to the play as Lear’s Fool.

Sam Mendes first approached Simon Russell Beale about King Lear when he was playing Hamlet at the National Theatre in 2000, and this is the ninth time he has directed the actor on stage.

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Medeaby Euripides in a new version by Ben Power

Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans) takes the title role in Euripides’ powerful tragedy, in a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

Broadcast live 4 September Repeat screenings in selected venues

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Timebased on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon adapted by Simon Stephens

‘A beautiful, eloquent, dazzlingly inventive show.’Evening Standard

Encore screenings from 22 May Repeat screenings in selected venues

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ngAdditional CompanySaIf al-WaRITh, JoN alagoa, WaJ alI, NaThaN aMpofo, paul aNThoNEy, JaMES S BaRNES, MaT BETTERIDgE, NavINDER BhaTTI, JoNaThaN BlakElEy, kaRl BRoWN, SEBaSTIaN CaNCIglIa, MaTThEW DaRCy, aMIT DhuT, NooR DIllaN-kNIghT, DExTER JERMaINE flaNDERS, MaTT gaRDNER, CaMERoN haRRIS, JohN haSTINgS, JaMES INkSoN, koJo kaMaRa, oWEN lINDSay, REBECCa MEyER, ShaNE NooNE, JoSEph ogElEka, gaRy phoENIx, JavIER RaSERo, aNThoNy STEElE, aNDREW ThoMpSoN, MaxWEll TylER and gRaCE WIllIS

please make sure all phones are switched off during the performance

a Small family Businessby Alan Ayckbourn

‘A fast and furious farce.’Daily Express

Broadcast live 12 June Repeat screenings in selected venues

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Characters, in order of speakingThe Earl of KentThe Earl of GloucesterEdmund, bastard son to GloucesterLear, King of Britain Goneril, Lear’s eldest daughterRegan, Lear’s second daughterCordelia, Lear’s youngest daughterThe Duke of Albany, Goneril’s husbandThe Duke of Cornwall, Regan’s husbandKing of FranceThe Duke of Burgundy, suitor to CordeliaEdgar, son to GloucesterOswald, Goneril’s stewardThe FoolAn OfficerCuranCornwall’s ServantOld ManDoctorNurse Captain

STaNlEy ToWNSEND STEphEN BoxERSaM TRoughToNSIMoN RuSSEll BEalE kaTE flEETWooDaNNa MaxWEll MaRTIN olIvIa vINallRIChaRD CloThIER MIChaEl NaRDoNE RoSS WaIToN paapa ESSIEDu ToM BRookE SIMoN MaNyoNDa aDRIaN SCaRBoRough gaRy poWEll DaNIEl MIllaR JoNaThaN DRyDEN TayloR ColIN haIgh haNNah STokEly CaSSIE BRaDlEy RoSS WaIToN

DirectorDesignerLighting DesignerMusic Projection DesignerFight DirectorSound DesignerCompany Voice WorkStaff DirectorProduction ManagerCastingStage ManagerDeputy Stage ManagerAssistant Stage Managers

Deputy Production ManagerProject DraughtingDigital ArtCostume SupervisorCostume Show BuyerAssistants to the Designer Production Photographer

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upcoming broadcasts

a Small family Businessby Alan Ayckbourn

Broadcast live 12 JuneRepeat screenings in selected venues

Jack McCracken: a man of principle in a corrupt world. But not for long. Moments after taking over his father-in-law’s business he’s approached by a private detective armed with some compromising information. Jack’s integrity fades away as he discovers his extended family to be thieves and adulterers, looting the business from their suburban homes. Rampant self-interest takes over and comic hysteria builds to a macabre climax.

Alan Ayckbourn’s riotous exposure of entrepreneurial greed returns to the National Theatre where it had its premiere in 1987, winning the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play.

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Timebased on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon adapted by Simon Stephens

Encore screenings from 22 MayRepeat screenings in selected venues

Following its smash-hit live broadcast in 2012, the National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns to cinemas. Winner of 7 Olivier Awards in 2013, including Best New Play.

Christopher, fifteen years old, has an extraordinary brain – exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears’ dog Wellington, he records each fact about the event in the book he is writing to solve the mystery of the murder. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

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BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING NOVEL By

Mark HaddonADAPTED By

SIMon STEPHEnS

Medeaby Euripides in a new version by Ben Power

Broadcast live 4 SeptemberRepeat screenings in selected venues

Terrible things breed in broken hearts.

Medea is a wife and a mother. For the sake of her husband, Jason, she’s left her home and borne two sons in exile. But when he abandons his family for a new life, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children. Cornered, she begs for one day’s grace.

It’s time enough. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear.

Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans) takes the title role in Euripides’ powerful tragedy, in a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell (A Doll’s House at the young Vic and on Broadway).

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by Euripidesin a new version by Ben Power

by Alan Ayckbourn

A Small Family Business